BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — The Columbia men's soccer team earned a wild and well-deserved, 1-1, draw against LIU on Saturday at the LIU Soccer Complex.
The Sharks (3-3-1), a team that won at UConn and took No. 5 Akron to the wire earlier this season, were credited with 25 shots to Columbia's nine. The Lions (1-2-2) made seven saves, five of which came from senior goalkeeper Michael Collodi, including a save off a penalty kick in the first half. The other two saves came with help from the back line, including a tremendous clear off the goal line by Carmine Falco in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
"Winning on the road in college soccer is never easy and especially tough when you play against a good side like LIU," Columbia's first-year head coach Michael Casper said. "Our guys battled hard, scored a good goal and, as much as I hate giving up the lead so quickly after we scored, I am happy with the performance."
After surviving the first half without conceding and getting a pair of diving stops by Collodi early in the second half, Columbia broke through. Will DeNight found Carmine Falco deep in the LIU box. The sophomore made a quick touch toward his near post to Jake Novoshelski, who beat a charging LIU keeper with a one-touch cross into the center of the six. Coming on was Chad Baker, beating his markers to drive in the opening tally.
"Chad got on the end of a tremendous move and finished a nice cross from Jake," Casper went on to say. "We have been talking about making runs in behind and working hard to get into the box. I am happy to see us do that and score a terrific goal from it."
Less than two minutes later, the Sharks leveled. It was set up when a foul was called against the Lions off a scramble a few yards outside of the penalty area. Alan Martinez lined up over the free kick and struck it perfectly, sending the shot over the wall and inside the left post. All Collodi could do was dive to his right to no avail.
It was a tough-luck tally against Collodi, who was tremendous between the posts once again.
"I thought
Michael Collodi was outstanding in goal today for us," Casper confidently acknowledged. "His PK save in the first half was a huge moment and I just wish we could have done a little more to get him the win."
LIU's first-half penalty was awarded when a handball was called against the Lions inside the box in the 14th minute. The highly-touted Herman Trophy Watch List honoree Emil Jaaskalainen stepped up to take the penalty and tried a stutter step to fool Collodi. The savvy veteran was not fooled, waiting for Jaaskalainen to make his move and stopping the shot with a dive to his right.
Columbia had a claim for a handball in the box against LIU late in the second half but it was not awarded.
After playing three straight on the road, the Lions return home this Tuesday for a midweek battle against Quinnipiac (2-2-1). First kick from Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
"We have to learn from this game, recover and get ready to face a talented Quinnipiac team," Coach Casper concluded.
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